Serving Gogebic, Iron and Ontonagon Counties
Serving Gogebic, Iron and Ontonagon Counties
REVEREND JEREMIAH Akintunde in the hat and Friar Dominic Agyapong of St. Sebastian Church in Bessemer meet for lunch in Wakefield and put aside theological differences, as both men are of African descent and in the United States for ministry purposes. The men discussed living in Africa and how much they enjoy being in the US.
By IAN MINIELLY
Bessemer - Bessemer resident Shatha Beauchamp formed the Children of the Lord Foundation to conduct mission work in the U.S. and Africa. The charity is currently supporting construction of a health clinic in Ghana that will provide health care for up to 25,000 people in the Ashanti Region.
Donna Frello, Bessemer resident and commander of VFW Post 3673 in Bessemer, described how the effort to build the health clinic is really in her heart Sunday morning during the VFW breakfast.
Frello said they have raised $35,000 so far for the clinic and need another $75,000 to complete construction and outfitting of the clinic. Friar Dominic, St. Sebastian's priest, has been using his pay to build the clinic back home and the charity decided to pick up the same mission, although Frello said it is not a Catholic Church ministry and Beauchamp reiterated, "they are helping everyone, Catholics, Protestants, and Muslims. We are helping all of God's people in the area."
The charity website is childrenofthelord.org.
In addition to the clinic, the charity is also focused on children's education, "to provide spiritual direction, love, educational and economic support to young people who face obstacles beyond their control..."
In 2017, the charity selected up to five students to raise the chosen gifted students out of poverty with the expectation they could do the same as they entered the workforce. In 2018, according to the website, it plans on doing the same with another 10 students. "If we can educate 20 percent of the kids then we can help alleviate poverty," said Beauchamp.
Students must, "possess the values of sincerity, hard work, positive ambition, and perseverance," on top of the other criteria.
The third area of focus for Beauchamp is "Courage For Kids." Kids' self-esteem, which is set by age 5, according to the website, needs to be nourished and fed so they are prepared to overcome big and small obstacles they will encounter in life. Children of the Lord does that through storytelling. Beauchamp said once they settle up with some of the overseas efforts they want to diversify and help the area around Bessemer and Ironwood too."
People interested in helping Children of the Lord can contact the charity through [email protected] or call 248-535-8897. It is headquartered in Bessemer.
